Nepal, India discuss revising transit treaty
Kathmandu, April 24: Nepalese and Indian officials began talks here on Tuesday to revise a Transit Treaty allowing a transit facility to Kathmandu through Indian waterways.
A sub-committee level meeting under the Inter-Governmental Committee (IGC) kicked off in Kathmandu, reports Xinhua news agency.
The commerce secretary level talks will start on Thursday.
During Nepali Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli's visit to India from April 6 to 8, the two countries issued a joint statement on new connectivity through inland waterways, opening the door for Nepal to reach the sea through waterways for the first time.
If Nepal establishes direct access to the sea through waterways, experts said that it would reduce the cost of doing trade for the landlocked Himalayan nation.
"The two sides are going to discuss on technicalities of incorporating the issue in the Transit Treaty," Rabi Shankar Sainju, joint secretary at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supply, told Xinhua.
"As it is the first time that two sides are discussing on adding waterway as mode of transit facility, we will basically discuss and try to finalize the content to be incorporated in the Treaty."
According to Madhav Belbase, joint secretary at the Water and Energy Commission, Nepal and India might have to form a joint study team to conduct the procedure.
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Class 12 girl student gang-raped inside moving car in Rajasthan's Bikaner
Jaipur (PTI): A Class 12 girl student was allegedly kidnapped and gang-raped inside a moving car in Rajasthan's Bikaner district, police said on Monday.
The incident occurred on January 6 in the Napasar area, but a case was registered only on January 11 following a complaint by the girl's family, they said.
According to the complaint, the girl had left home for school on the morning of January 6. Two youngsters intercepted her and abducted in a car and drove away.
The accused allegedly drove around for several hours, threatening and raping the girl turn by turn inside the moving vehicle, they said in the complaint.
Later, when the car entered a neighbouring village, locals grew suspicious and stopped the vehicle.
After forcing the girl out of the car, the accused fled from the spot. Villagers informed the girl's family, who reached the spot and took her home, police said.
A case has been registered at Napasar police station under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Circle Officer Gangashahar Himanshu Sharma told PTI.
He said that the girl is aged above 18 years while the age of the accused is not clear.
"No arrests have been made so far," he said, adding that the matter was under investigation.
